Pirates acquire Marlon Byrd, John Buck from Mets

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck from the New York Mets for two prospects, according to multiple reports.

CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman first reported that the Pirates were one of possibly multiple teams to have claimed Byrd off waivers on Tuesday morning, with a deal for he and Buck struck on the same day the Mets were set to honor the outfielder with a T-shirt giveaway.

Byrd, who turns 36 on Friday, is hitting .285 with a career-high 21 homers and a team-leading 71 RBI in 117 games for the Mets this season, having become an everyday player after signing a one-year, $700,000 deal in February.

Buck, who was acquired from Toronto in the R.A. Dickey deal last December, is hitting .215 with 15 homers and 60 RBI in 101 games this season.

Byrd will likely immediately step into the spot of left fielder Starling Marte, who is on the disabled list with a finger injury, while Buck will replace Michael McKenry, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury in July, as Russell Martin’s backup behind the plate.

Both men are set to become free agents once again this winter, and the Mets will send cash considerations to Pittsburgh to help offset the roughly $1.3 million left on their contracts.

In return, the Mets will get 19-year-old middle infielder Dilson Herrera, who is hitting .265 with 11 homers, 56 RBI, and 11 steals at Class-A West Virginia this season, as well as another player to be named later.

To replace Buck and Byrd on the roster, the Mets have recalled catcher Anthony Recker and outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Las Vegas; the team also officially placed Matt Harvey (partially torn elbow ligament) on the disabled list and recalled LHP Robert Carson from Las Vegas.